Feeding device



Feb, M, 1935;, C. L.. POST m3,@

FEEDING DEVICE:

Filed July 25, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l Claude P055 l.

Feb. M, 3 c. L. POST FEEDING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fraz/enger @Zande nos? Feb, M, w35., c. L.. POST FEEDING DEVICE Filed'uly 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 11, 1936 STTES PATENT GFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to material feeding devices, and particularly to a device for feeding single sheets of paper of predetermined thickness to other devices or machines, as, for eX- ample, to printing mechanism or the like.

-One object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement whereby the passage through the feeding mechanismiof material such, for example, as more than single sheets of paper, or sheets of more than predetermined thickness will operate to `disconnect the feeding mechanism from its source of operating power.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of brake mechanism operatively related to the driving means for stoppingthe feeding mechanism when the latter is disconnected from its source of operating power.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure and arrangement whereby accidental or unintentional operation of the disconnecting means is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein the operating devices lmay-he adjusted with respect to the feeding A mechanism according to thickness of the material intended to be fed thereby.

:A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in y:sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of a feeding mechanism illustrating the application of the present invention thereto, and showing its relation to printing mechanism, or the like, in connection with which, the present invention Will be described;

fFig. 2 is'anenlarged elevational` View of the structure and arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1;

YFig-3 is an enlarged sectional elevational-*view of -a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, andtaken substantially as indicatedby the line -3-3 thereof ;v Y v v Fig. 4 is. an enlarged transverse sectional elevational View taken substantially as indicated by theline 4 6 of -Eig. 2; and

vFig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational -View illustrating a portion ofthe structure in changed position.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings comprises a main frame 6 `having-for example, printing lmechanism,` indicated generally by the numeral 1,

(o1. isz- 126) mounted thereon, and having paper feeding mechanism indicated generally by the numerals and 9 for feeding the paper from a source of supply to the printing rolls, the feeding mechanisms 8 and 9 shown in the drawings being of 5 the character disclosed and fully described in Patent No. 1,837,190, issued to me December 22, 1931.

For driving the printing mechanism 'l from a source of power indicated, in the present instance, as an electric motor l l, a suitable driving connection is provided, and shown, in the present instance, as comprising a motor shaft I2 having a friction wheel i3 mounted thereon and engageable withV a friction disk lil rotatable and slidably mounted on a stub shaft l5 and operatively related, through a spline connection I6, with a pinion Il rotatably mounted on the shaft l5 and engageable with a pinion i8 secured to a shaft l Q of one of the rolls of the printing mechanism l, and for driving the feeding mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 8, the shaft i9 may be operatively connected by a sprocket and chain connection 2l with a shaft 22, to which the feeding mechanism 8 is operatively related, while the feeding mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 9 may be operatively connected by means of a suitable chain and sprocket connection 23 to a shaft 24 driven through a chain and sprocket connection 25 by a shaft 26, the shaft 26 being driven by a train of gears 21 operatively yrelated thereto and to the shaft 22.

For controlling operation of the friction disk l, a shipper bar 28 is operatively related thereto and mounted to slide longitudinally in a bracket 29 carried by the main frame 5.

Mounted on the shafts 26 and 2t, respectively, in a manner to rotate therewith, and forming a part of the feeding mechanisms 8 and 9, respectively, are feed rollers 3| and 32 over which the material such, for example, as sheets of paper, indicated at S (Fig. 3), are fed in their passage through the feeding mechanism, and positioned above the roller 3| is a floating pressure roller 31% adapted to ride on the upper surfacel of the sheets S for maintaining the sheets in proper contact with the feed rollers 3i and 32.

It frequently happens that in a stock of material to be printed, for example, some of the sheets may be of greater thickness than the general run, 50 01 that two or more sheets may adhere or stick together, particularly in the case of gummed 1abels or the like, and in either case, if such thicker sheets, or sheets in such condition, are permitted to pass to the printing mechanism, serious dam- .55

age thereto might occur, particularly if the printing rollers are set in proper relation to do efficient and satisfactory printing, and for detecting adhering sheets of material, or sheets of more than predetermined thickness, a detector arm 34 is pivotally mounted at 35 on the main frame 6, and rotatably mounted in bearings at the free end of the arm 34 is a shaft 35 to one end of which is connected a detector roller 31 positioned above the feed roller 32 in a manner to be engaged by a sheet or sheets of material of excessive thickness passing thereover, while to the opposite end of the shaft 35 is connected a ratchet wheel 38.

For positioning the detector roller 39 with relation to the feed roller 32 in accordance with the predetermined thickness of paper used, the arm 34 is provided intermediate its ends with an adjusting screw 35 adapted to cooperate with a bar 4I mounted on the main frame 8 in a manner to raise and lower the free end of the arm 34 and thereby position the detector roller 31 with reference to the feed roller 32 in a manner to permit the passage of sheets of predetermined thickness therebetween without effectively contacting and rotating the detector roller 31.

Mounted on the shipper bar 28 adjacent the ratchet 38 and operatively related thereto, is a pawl designated as a whole by the numeral 42 and provided, adjacent its lower end, with a toe portion 43 adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet 38, and the pawl 42 is also provided, adjacent its upper end, with a toe portion 44 adapted to cooperate with a reciprocating dog 45 carried by a slide member 45 slidably mounted on the shipper bar 28, the slide member 45 being connected by means of a link 41 to a crank arm 48 secured to one end of the shaft 22 in a manner to cause continuous reciprocation of the slide member 45 and dog l5 when the shaft 22 is rotated.

The pawl 42 is of substantially U-shape, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, and adapted to receive the shipper bar 2S between its leg portions, the leg portions of the pawl being provided with slots 45 adapted to loosely receive a pin 5I mounted in the shipper bar 28 in a manner to permit the pawl 42 to swing freely thereon and to move bodily with respect thereto.

It will be observed from the foregoing description and by reference to the drawings, that in the event a plurality of sheets, or a sheet of more than predetermined thickness enters between the feed roller 32 and detector roller 31, the detector roller, by reason of its adjustment with relation to the feed roller 32, will be engaged by the upper surface of the sheet or sheets with sufficient Contact to rotate the detector roller 31, shaft 35 and ratchet 38 mounted thereon in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrows in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, in a manner to cause the teeth of the ratchet 38 to move the pawl 42 in an upwardly direction from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5, and in a manner to position the toe portion 44 above the plane of the shipper bar 28 and into the path of the reciprocating dog 45 to be engaged thereby, and causing the reciprocation of the dog in one direction to move the shipper bar 23 in a manner to move the disk I4 longitudinally of the shaft i and out of engagement with the friction wheel I3, thereby disconnecting the feeding mechanism 3 and 3 from their source of power and preventing further feeding of the material and also disconnecting the printing mechanism 1 from the motor i I.

Under certain conditions a very slight variation in the thickness of the sheet of material S passing between the feed roller 32 and detector roller 31 may cause a slight creeping of the detector roller 31 and ratchet 38, and to prevent such creeping movement of the ratchet 38 from moving the toe portion 44 of the pawl 42'int0 the path of the dog 45, the slide member 46 is provided with a finger 52 adapted to engage the lower end portion of the pawl 42 at each reciprocal movement of the slide member 46 and dog 45 in one direction in a manner to swing the toe portion 43 of the pawl 42 away from the ratchet 38 and out of contact with the teeth thereof, thereby permitting a slight creeping of the detector roller 31 until such time as a sheet or sheets of such substantial thickness enter between the feed roller 32 and detector roller 31 as might damage or seriously interfere with the efficient operation of the printing mechanism.

To facilitate the stopping of rotation of the friction disk I4, pinion I1, splined thereto, and the feeding mechanism driven thereby, a brake shoe 53 is operatively related to the periphery of the disk i4, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 .and 2, and is carried by a bracket 54 slidably mounted on the shipper bar 28, the brake shoe 53 being adapted to operate against a spring 55 engageable with a stop collar 56 adjustably secured to the shipper bar 28 by means of a set screw 51, the arrangement being such that when the shipper bar 28 is moved longitudinally to separate the disk I4 from the friction wheel I3, the brake shoe 53 will be urged against the periphery of the friction disk i4 with a yielding force exerted by the spring 55, thereby producing a rapid slowing down of the friction disk I4 and parts driven thereby.

If desired, the bracket 54 may be provided with a handle 58 by which the relationship of the friction wheel I3 and disk I4 may be manually controlled.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel construction and arrangement for feeding devices, wherein the passage of a sheet or sheets of material of more than predetermined thickness is prevented, thereby avoiding the possibility of damage to printing or other mechanism to which the sheets are being fed, or seriously interfering with the eicient operation thereof.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly, as the same may be used to advantage in variously differentcombinations and sub-combinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:`

1. In a device of the class described, the com-- bination with paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor having a driving connection therewith, of a shipper bar operatively related to said driving connection, a detector operatively re.- lated to said feeding mechanism and adapted to. be actuated by paper of more than predetermined:

thickness fed thereby, a pawl and ratchet connected, respectively, to said shipper bar and detector and adapted to be actuated by the detector,-

and a continuously operated dog engageable with said pawl for actuating the shipper bar to disconnect the driving connection when said detector is actuated.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor having a driving connection 5' therewith, of a shipper bar operatively related to i'sfaid'fdriving connection, a detector operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adapted to be actuated by-paper of more than predetermined pawl for actuating the shipper bar to disconnect the driving connection when said detector is actu- "ated, and means for adjusting the detector with respect to the path of the paper fedby said feedlng mechanism.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor having a driving connection therewith, of a shipper bar operatively related to "said driving connection, a detector operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adapted to be actuated by paper of more than predetermined "thickness fed thereby, a pawl and ratchet connected, vrepectively, to said shipper bar and detector vand adapted to be actuated by the detector, a. continuously reciprocating dog engageable with said pawl for actuating the shipper bar to disconnect the driving connection when said detector is actuated, means for adjusting the detector With respect to the path of the paper fed by said feeding mechanism, and a brake shoe mounted on said shipper bar and engageable with a portion of said driving means.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor having a driving connection therewith, of a shipper bar operatively related to said driving connection, a detector roller operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adapted to be rotated by paper of more than predetermined thickness fed thereby, a ratchet connected to and rotatable with said roller, a pawl mounted on said shipper bar and engageable with said ratchet, and a continuo-usly actuated dog engageable with said pawl for actuating the shipper bar to disconnect the driving connection when Said detector roller and ratchet are rotated.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor having a driving connection therewith, of a longitudinally movable shipper bar operatively related to said driving connection, a detector roller operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adapted to be rotated by paper of more than predetermined thickness fed thereby, a ratchet connected to and rotatable with said rollers, a pawl pivotally mounted on said shipper bar ,and engageable with said ratchet to be moved thereby With respect to the shipper bar, and a continuously actuated dog engageable with said pawl for moving the shipper bar longitudinally to disconnect the driving connection when said detector roller and ratchet are rotated.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor having a driving connection therewith, of a longitudinally movable shipper bar operatively related to said driving connection, an adjustable detector roller operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adap-ted to be rotated b-y paper of more than predetermined thickness fed thereby, a ratchet connected to and rotatable with said roller, a pawl pivotally mounted and bodily movable on said shipper bar `and engageable with said ratchet to be moved thereby with respect to the shipper bar, and a continuously reciprocating dog engageable with said pawl for moving the shipper bar longitudinally to disconnect the driving connection when said'r detector and ratchet vare rotated.

7. In a. device of the class described, the combination with a main frame having paper -feed. ing mechanism and driving means therefor mounted on said frame and including adriving connection operatively related to said driving means and feeding mechanism, of ashipper bar mounted on said frame, a detector supporting member movably mounted on said frame, adetector roller rotatably mounted on said member and operatively related to said feeding mechanism, a ratchet connected to and rotatable With said roller, a reciprocating dog operatively/connected to said driving means, a pawl mounted on said shipper bar and engageable with -said ratchet to` be moved by the rotation thereof into the path of said dog vfor moving the shipper bar and disconnecting said driving connectionwhensaid detector roller is rotated, and means operatively related to said detector supporting member and frame for adjusting said detectorroller with respect to said paper feeding mechanism.

8;' In adevice of the class described, the combination with a main frame having paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor mounted on said frame and including al driving connection operatively related to said driving means and feeding mechanism, of a shipper bar mounted on said frame, a detector supporting member mounted on said frame, a detector roller rotatably mounted on said member and operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adap-ted to be rotated by paper of more than predetermined thickness fed thereby, a ratchet connected to and rotatable with said roller, a reciprocating dog operatively connected to said driving means, a pawl mounted on said shipper bar and engageable with said ratchet to be moved by the rotation thereof into the path of said dog for moving the shipper bar and disconnecting said driving connection when said detector roller is rotated, and means operatively related to said detector supporting member and frame for ad.- justing said detector roller with respect to said paper feeding mechanism.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination With a main frame having paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor mounted on said frame and including a driving connection operatively related to said driving means and feeding mechanism, of a shipper bar mounted on and longitudinally movable with respect to said frame, a detector supporting arm pivotally mounted on said frame, a detector roller rotatably mounted on said arm and operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adapted to be rotated by paper of more than predetermined thickness fed thereby, a ratchet connected to and rotatable With said roller, a dog slidably mounted on said shipper bar and operatively connected to said driving means, a pawl mounted on said shipper bar and engageable with said ratchet to be moved by the rotation thereof into the path of said dog for moving the shipper bar longitudinally and disconnectingl said driving connection when said detector roller is rotated, and adjustable means operatively related to said detector supporting arm 'and said frame for adjusting said detector roller with respect to said paper feeding mechanism.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main frame having paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor mounted on said frame and including a driving connection operatively related to said driving means and feeding mechanism, of a shipper bar mounted on and longitudinally movable with respect to said frame, a detector supporting arm pivotally mounted on said frame, a detector roller rotatably mounted on said arm and operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adapted to be rotated by paper of more than predetermined thickness fed thereby, a ratchet connected to and rotatable with said roller, a dog slidably mounted on said shipper bar and operatively connected to said driving means, a pawl movably mounted on said shipper bar and having one of its ends engageable with said ratchet and movable thereby for positioning the opposite end of the pawl in the path of said dog, and means operatively related to said dog and mov-- able therewith for normally disconnecting the pawl from said ratchet at each movement of said dog in one direction.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main frame having paper feeding mechanism and driving means therefor mounted on said frame and including a driving connection operatively related to said driving means and feeding mechanism, of a shipper bar mounted on and longitudinally movable with respect to said frame, a detector supporting arm pivotally mounted on said frame, a detector roller rotatably mounted on said arm and operatively related to said feeding mechanism and adapted to be rotated by paperv of mor-e than predetermined thickness fed thereby, a ratchet connected to and rotatable With said roller, a dog slidably mounted on and above said shipper bar and operatively connected to said driving means', a pawl pivotally and bodily movable on said shipper bar and having its lower end engageable with said ratchet and movable thereby for positoning the upper end of the paWl in the path of said dog, means operatively related to said dog and movable therewith for disconnecting the pawl from said ratchet at each movement of said dog in one direction When the dog is not in engagement with the upper end of said pawl, and a yieldable brake shoe mounted on said shipper bar and engageable with a portion of said driving means.

CLAUDE L. POST. 

